Stormont deadline: Parties say Irish PM talks were constructive

Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have described their meetings with the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) as constructive.

Micheál Martin met the leaders of the five main Stormont parties in Belfast to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol and restoring power-sharing.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said there should be "no more delays" in forming an executive.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the meeting with Mr Martin was useful.

The assembly must resume by 28 October to avoid a fresh election being called.

Under current rules, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris must set an election date if devolution is not restored by then.

The taoiseach said "political stability" in Westminster was important in finding a resolution to the protocol talks and restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.

He said there was still time for the DUP to take their seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and that was his "focus right now".

Ms O'Neill had said turbulence at Westminster was affecting efforts to restore devolution in Northern Ireland.

"I encourage everybody who has got a position of responsibility to get to work and actually do something to find an agreed way forward with the protocol and allow us to get around the executive table," she said.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy also criticised Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's plans to scrap support for energy bills from next April.

Michelle O'Neill described her meeting with the taoiseach as "constructive"

Ms O'Neill said she had not raised with Mr Martin his weekend criticism of her party.

On Sunday the Fianna Fáil leader launched an attack on Sinn Féin, accusing it of attempting to intimidate broadcasters and rivals and refusing to accept basic accountability.

Ms O'Neill said Mr Martin was in Northern Ireland in his capacity as taoiseach and that the focus was on "getting people through the months ahead".

Sir Jeffrey said he believed the Irish government better understood the unionist position on the protocol.

"We are not looking for a tinkering of the protocol arrangement but fundamental change," he said.

"It's clear that the Irish government share our view that we are not looking at a quick fix but we are looking at a comprehensive deal."

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the Irish government better understood unionist opposition to the protocol

Stormont has not functioned fully since February when the DUP pulled its first minster out of office in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protocol was agreed between the UK government and the European Union in 2019 in a bid to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.

However, unionist parties oppose it, saying it is damaging trade in Northern Ireland and undermining its position within the UK.

An election was held in May but the new assembly could not function because the DUP refused to vote for a new Speaker.

Sir Jeffrey said it was difficult to see an executive being formed before the deadline at the end of October.

"The question of an election is for the government. If an election is called my party will fight an election like never before," he added.

He said he wouldn't try to influence the government's decision on whether it called an election but added that a fresh poll would not change his party's position on the protocol.

• A simple guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol

• Irish PM welcomes MP's apology over Brexit talks

• Funeral of peace deal unless protocol sorted - Poots

Speaking after her meeting with the taoiseach, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Northern Ireland was entering an unprecedented period of uncertainty because of events at Westminster and the lack of government at Stormont.

She described her meeting with Mr Martin as both "constructive and serious".

Mrs Long continues in her role as justice minister until 28 October, but refused to commit her party to returning to a future executive if power sharing was restored.

'Here we go again'

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said Northern Ireland was facing "another here we go again moment".

He said there was a "landing zone" that could be reached between the UK and EU on the protocol dispute, if political leaders were willing to show courage.

He repeated his view that holding a fresh assembly election would not help the political impasse at Stormont, and said the Northern Ireland secretary needed to remove the "artificial gun" from the debate.

The talks are part of what is likely be one of Mr Martin's last visits to Belfast as taoiseach.

As part of the coalition agreement with Fine Gael, he is due to switch positions with Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar in December.

Mr Martin's visit came the day after he launched a scathing attack on Sinn Féin, accusing the party of attempting to intimidate broadcasters and rivals, and refusing to accept basic accountability.

Sinn Féin described his comments as a nonsensical, bizarre, fantasy attack.

Maroš Šefčovič said the EU remained committed to engaging intensively on Northern Ireland

Meanwhile EU chief Brexit negotiator Maroš Šefčovič tweeted that it had been "good to take stock" with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on technical talks about the protocol on Monday.

"Work continues. The EU remains committed to engaging intensively to find joint solutions on practical issues for the benefit of Northern Ireland," he wrote.